Funds granted to MEDB for local manufacturing of ventilators during COVID-19 response

News Release from County of Maui, March 30, 2020

Mayor Michael Victorino announced today, $100,000 in grant funds to Maui Economic Development Board Inc. for local production of emergency ventilators to treat COVID-19.

Two locally-owned technology companies are immediately redeploying their engineering and machining capabilities to manufacture ventilators on Maui. The companies are Maui Innovation Group, led by Dr. Ned Davis at the Maui Research and Technology Park, and HNu Photonics, led by Dr. Dan O’Connell of Kahului.

“Ventilators are crucial when it comes to effectively caring for COVID-19 patients, so having these companies producing them on island is a true blessing for our community,” Mayor Michael Victorino said. “We also want to mahalo Maui Economic Development Board and the two companies for their partnership in producing these ventilators.”

The effort is part of a nationwide emergency collaboration to recruit technology companies to fill national and local ventilator needs. The ventilators are based on an emergency design developed at the University of Texas at Austin, which is being used nationwide to meet the immediate demand for the medical devices.

“Thank you to these local companies – founded by our talented tech professionals on Maui – for their efforts and willingness to step up during this time of need,” said Leslie Wilkins, President and CEO of Maui Economic Development Board, Inc.

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